Student paramedic perceptions of a non-ambulance practice learning experience.

Background: The role of the paramedic has changed significantly over the last 10 years. In order for paramedic students to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively manage the increasing complexity of patient presentations a wide range of placement opportunities are required to support learning.

Objective: To explore first year student paramedic experiences of non-ambulance placements.

Management of pain in pre-hospital settings.

Assessment and management of pain in pre-hospital care settings are important aspects of paramedic and clinical team roles. As emergency department waiting times and delays in paramedic-to-nurse handover increase, it becomes more and more vital that patients receive adequate pre-hospital pain relief. However, administration of analgesia can be inadequate and can result in patients experiencing oligoanalgesia, or under-treated pain.